Safety mechanism



Dec. 26, 1933. J. JACQUE SAFETY MECHANISM Filed Oct. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR cfohn win-7m BY ATTORN EYS Dec. 26, 1933. J JACQUE 1,941,356

SAFETY MECHANISM Filed Oct. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 11.31 i/ql.

32 Z5 ,29 v Z6 INVENTOR WITNESSES Jaizn cfacgufl fifl ATTORNEYS tate' the basket, butja lso after thepower is shut Patented Dec. 26, 1933 JUNITED STA s PATIENT OFFICE This invention relates to safety mechanism for use in conjunction'with laundry washing ma-, chines, centrifugal extractors andclosely anal ogous machines.

A'machine, such as a centrifugal -extractor, includes a basket which is rotated at high speed. within an outer shell or drum having a cover for thebasket. It is necessary for the protection of careless operators to prevent access to the basket notonly while the power is applied to rooff and while the basket continues to rotate by momentum at a dangerous speed, and until it comes to a standstill. v v 1 One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of the indicated character with means to lock the cover thereof closed until the basket stops rotating. I

Another object is to provide acentrifugal extractor with a safety mechanism which operates inconjunction with thepower or driving'mechaa nismand also with. the control mechanism for such power ordriving mechanism, to keep the covershut as long as the basket is in motion, then allowing the cover to beopened, but preventing the control mechanism from being operated causing rotation of the basket, unless and until the cover is first closed.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a device operable in conjunction with the cover and power control means orbelt shifter for the purposes mentioned. a g

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations, constructions and functions of the parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of a centrifugal extractor selected to illustrate the invention applied thereto, the cover beinglocked shut;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the positions of the partstorelease the cover;

Figure 3' is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevations of parts 'of the mecha nism looking atgthe same in the direction indicated by the arrows and'section line '3'3 of Figure 1; r

' Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan of a modification of the invention. t

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 6/6 of Figure'2.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there is shown a centrifugal extractor which includes an outer casing or drum 10 having a cover 11 which is hinged to the drum 10 formovement to opened and closed'positions; A rotary basket 12 is arranged within the drum 10 below the cover. The basket 12 is driven by power or driving means generally indicated at 13 which includes a driven pulley 14 fast on a shaft 15, a pulley 16 fast on the shaft 15,*and apulley 17 loosely mounted on the shaft'15. Control mechanism consisting.

of a belt shifterv 18 is manually operable to shift a a belt 19 to the pulley 16 or the pulley17 for the purpose of starting and stopping the rotation of thebaskct 12. It is to be understood that a suitable driving connection (not shown) is provided between the pulley 14 and the shaft of the 0 basket 12. The belt shifter includesa lever 20 which is manuallyoperab1e to shift .the belt 19 to the pulley 16 to cause the rotation of the basket 12, and to the pulley 17 to stop the power means from driving the basket 12.

The safety mechanism which is operable in conjunction with the parts hereinabove described includes an attaching structure or assembly consisting of an .L'-shaped bracket 21 which is secured to the side of the drum 10, and two substantially similar members 22 which are secured in place on the, bracket 21 by fastening means consisting of aclip 23 which embraces the mem bers 22, and a bolt and nut 24 whichextends through the clip 23 and the bracket 21, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. Each of the members 22 has a slot'25 which receivesthe bolt 24; .It will therefore be apparent that the members 22 are mounted for adjustment'relative to the drum 10. I A bar or rigid element'26 is slidably mounted on the members 22. The bar 26 consists of two sections, a section 27 and a section 28. The sections 27 and 28 are relatively adjustable to increase or decrease the length of the bar 26, and this is accomplished by the provision of holes 29 in each of the sections 27 and 23 and has fastening means consisting of a clip 30 which embraces the sections 27 and 28 and a screw bolt 31 which extends through a pair of the holes respectively m oward and aw y from the pulley 1%, said 1 bar 26 being disposed horizontally. Throw-back means is arranged on the end of the bar section 28 adjacent the pulley 14. This throw-back means consists of a member 37 which is pivotally connected as at 38 with the bar section 28. A spring 39 has one end connected with an upstanding member 40 on the section 28 and its opposite end is connected with the member 37. The spring 39 serves to return the member 37 to a horizontal position, movement of the member 37 being limited to the horizontal position by a stop 41 formed on the bar section 28. The member 37 carries a roller 42. The said throw-back means consisting of the parts mentioned cooperates with the spokes of the pulley 14 for a purpose to be explained.

The safety mechanism also includes an arm or rigid member 43 which is connected with the bolt 32, which serves as a pivot or fulcrum for the arm 43. It is to be understood that the arm 43 will be mounted for movement in relation to the cover 11 to hold it shut and also to a position to permit the cover 11 to be opened. A spring metal strip44 issecured at its ends as at 45 to the cover 11 and is provided with a depression 46 midway of its ends. The arm 43 rides on the strip 44 and is receivable in the depression 46 to retain the arm in a holding position in relation to the cover 11 against unintentional movement from the holding position. Means is provided to cause sliding movement of thebar 26 in response to the movement of the arm 43. The said meansconsists of a cam bolt 47 carried by the bar section 2'7, the said bolt 47 being received in an arcuate slot 48 in an offset extension 490i the arm 43. A stop 50 is adjustable on the arm43 by reason of the bolt 51 and holes 52 and 53, respectively, in the stop 50 and arm 43. When the arm 43 is inthe retaining position as shown in Figure 1, the bar 26 will be drawn back and the member 3'7 oi the throw-back means will be clear of the pulley 14. When the arm 43 is brought to thereleasing position, as shown in Figure 2, the member 37 will cooperate with the spokes of the pulley 14.

a From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the cover 11 is in its open position, it will be impossible to move the arm 43 to a position over the drum 1i), and it will therefore be impossible to retract the bar 26 to bring the member 37 clear of the pulley 14. In order to accomplish this it is necessary to first swing the cover 11 to its closed position. Power will be transmitted to rotate the basket 12 only after the lever 20 is manipulated to transfer the belt 19 from the pulley 17 to the pulley 16. Before this can be accomplished it will be necessary to move the arm 43 to its retaining position over the cover 11 disposed in the depression 46 in the strip 44 on the cover 11, as shown in Figure l. The stop 50 on the arm 43 prevents the lever 20 from being moved to transfer the belt 19 to the pulley 16 unless and until the arm 43 is in its cover retaining position. When the arm 43 is in the cover retaining position, the throw-backmember 3'7 will be clear of the spokes of the pulley 14. The lever 20 may then be operated to transfer the belt 19 from the idler pull y 17 to the pulley 16, thereby causing power to be transmitted to the basket to rotate the same. It therefore follows that the cover 1-1 cannot be opened until the power is shut off, and until the basket stops rotating even from momentum after the power has been shut oil. In this connection 'it is to be observed that in the attempt to move the arm 43 from its cover retaininposition, the bar 26 will be moved toward the pulley 14 and the spokes thereof, one of which is indicated in dot and dash lines and designated 54 in Figure 3, will be encountered by the roller 42 on the member 37 preventing the movement of the arm to a position which would release the cover 11.

The spring 39 will continually return the member 3'7 to a horizontal position as the spokes of the pulley 14 clear the roller, producing a noise which will Warn a careless operator not to attempt to open the cover 11, and, in fact, will be prevented from doing so. When the pulley 14 stops rotating,

the basket 12 will be at a standstill, and the arm means is started unless and until the cover 11 is closed.

In Figure 5 there is shown a modified form of invention. This form of the invention consists of an arm which is pivotally mounted as at 61 on the drum 10 for movement to a cover retaining position, as shown in full lines, and to a releasing position, as shown in dot and dash lines. The arm 60 is provided with throw-back means, indicated at 62, the same being similar to that described hereinabove. It will be apparent that in the attempt to move the arm 60 to its releasing position, the throw-back means 62 will encounter the pulley 14 and prevent its movement to the releasing position until the pulley 14 stops rotating. It willalso be necessary to close the cover before the basket can be driven by the power means. a

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal extracting machine, the combination with an extractor and means to drive the extractor including a rotary element; of a movable cover for the extractor, a rigid member, means mounting said rigid member for move: ment in relation to said rotary element, a holding member mounted for pivotal movement toa retaining position to hold said cover shut, and also to an open position to permit the cover to be opened, said holding member being connected with said rigid member to .move the latter, and

spring actuated means connected with said. rigid member for movement in relation thereto which cooperates with said rotary element while the latter is in motion to maintain the holding member in its retaining position in the attempt to move the holding member to its open position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with driving means. including a rotary driven element; of a slidably mounted bar,

a pivoted rigid member on said bar, a spring con- I neoted with said bar and rigid member, means on the bar to limit the pivotal movement of the rigid member in one direction, a movable cover,

manually operable holding and releasing means which holds the cover shut in one position and permits it to open in its other position, said bar being connected with said holding and releasing the driving means, of a movable coverga manually operable arm to hold said cover shut and to release it to be opened, means on said arm to prevent the operation of said control means when said arm is in its cover releasing position and means connected with said arm which is acted on by the spokes of said rotatable member while it is in motion to prevent the arm from being moved to its releasing position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with driving means including a spoked rotatable member and control means. for the driving means, of a movable cover, a manually operable arm to hold said cover shut andto release it to be opened, means on said arm to prevent the operation of said control means when said arm is in its cover releasing position, a slidable rigid member, and throw-backmeans on said rigid member, said rigid member being connected with said arm, said throw-back means being-acted on by the spokes of said rotatable member while it is in motion to prevent the arm I 'from being moved to its releasing position.

said radial portions while said rotatable member is in motion to prevent the operation of said arm to prevent the cover .from being opened.

JOHN JACQUE. 

